Accident

Definition - What does Accident mean?

An accident is an unplanned, unforeseen, and unexpected event that has a negative effect on all activities of the individual who is involved in the accident.

An accident can result in death, injury, disease or infection, loss of property, damage to environment, or a combination thereof. Accidents can come with business consequences as well, such as compensation costs, loss of productivity, and a decrease in employee morale.

Safeopedia explains Accident

Occupational accidents can take place either at the workplace or in other settings while on the job, such as a worksite or driving or riding between job sites.

A number of human factors can cause accidents, such as:

Unsafe conduct

Inattention

Negligence

Improper training

Inexperience

Drowsiness, fatigue, or illness

Other factors can include:

Working conditions

Workplace designs

Substandard safety processes

Weather conditions

There are federal, state, and municipal laws and regulations aimed at preventing or reducing the number of accidents. Organizations are required to comply with these and are also expected or encouraged to follow industry best practices.